Fastener



May 17, 1949. w. D'zus FASTENER Filed July 21, 1945 nToRNEY Patented May 17, 1949 EASTEN'EK Williamfzus, West Islip, N. Y.

ApplicationJuly 21, 1945,' Serial No, 60631 ly (Cl. 24F-221) This Ainvention relates toq'an improved fastener particularly to a fastener ofthe quick-acting, selflocking type.

This type of fastenerisfused -for releasablyattaching two parts and'generally consists of a 'stud' memberand anspringqor receptacle member. VThe springer receptacle member is fixedly attached to the frame or staticnarywgpart vandthe stud member is rotatably attached-to the removable part.; The fastener is closed 'andgreleased by rotating the studwith respect to the spring or receptacle member. I have found that this arrangement isnot always satisfactory due to the factl thatattimes there is no adequatemountingffor the receptacle member and at other times insumcientespace is available forthe receptacle member. 'Itlwill yalso beappreciated that the spring-orreceptacle memberis not a structural memberand-it'do'es nota'ppreciably strengthen orv reinforce the partA `to which itis attached:

Itis an object of the present-invention-to provide an improved fastening-devicegin which the stud member is fixedl-y mountedand the springor receptacle memberis mountedscas to -berota-table with respect thereto. This vpermits the fastener to -be used ein Vmanyplaces where fastenersof -this typecould notfo'rmerly be used. This is due to the factthat thefstud may; bemounted in many Vplaces where there isv insumcientA-space for the spring -or receptacle,` orwh'ereqthere is` 3inadequate or unsatisfactorySupportfor the spring or receptacle. It also permitsof theuseof the; stud member asa 'structural member to strengthen and reinforce the part-'on which itvis mounted.

A- further objectof the presentinvention -is 4to provide an improved fasteningdevicein whichthe spring or receptacle mem-ber is-readily-accessibleso as to facilitate its replacement.

Among otherobjects is the provision of an irnproved fastening. deviceof `relatively simple construction which is easy to install and operate; whichis'sturdyiancldurable;L andg-in which the parts may be readily replaced-.when,desir-ed.-y

In thel accompanyingvdrawing.:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a fastening device embodying-my invention;

2 is ra. sectional. view in thedirectionsofthe arrows in line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a. -sectional view at right angles to Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows in line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view partially in section showing the fastening device in open position;

Fig. 5 is a-sectional view offfareceptacle-member showing modied'm'eans forattachingit tothe. plate;`

ceptacle member;

Fig. '17 'is a side yelevational'View` partially inseetion of themodied-typeof receptacle; and--A Fig. 8'is Yan end elevational lvieWf-of ithe modified typeof receptacle.

Referring to the first Lfourfigures-of the vdrawing, my fastening dev-laevisy shown asfafppliedrtoa` fixed-part i0 anda removable part: H; which are releasably retained `'in-assembledI4 relationship by mea-nsof the fastening-device;- Thefastening'device consists generally of Aa stud :member -l 2=andy a receptacle member` |13',l the-` stud member being attachedy to the iixedipart Il)J and the-receptacle member being rotatably-attachedtothe plate H Thel operative p0rtion-of1theV stud member' I 2= is of the spiral cam-type vsimilar-to thatvsh'own-in my Patent No. 1,955,740, granted vApril.24,51934,1 and vconsists of a tubular portion- Il-l having -op positely disposed-spiral slots |51, extend-inginwardly froml-the-endfthereof, forming-shoulders! lik and terminating `in detentsfl'lf The-stud-fisfprovided with means for fixedlyattaching` it tovth'e part |0,- as for instance the threaded shan-kJi I8v which isthreadeddntov the opening inpart i IllaE To facilitate the attachmentrofthe stud; an iintegral hexagonal nut portion fl@ may lie-provided as shown. Thefpart |`|J=imay be provided witha threaded opening2ll and a recess 2| for accommo-v dating Vthe nut portion I9.'- The-studis attached to part I0 by screwingitin-positionasfshowm and if desired; a lock y washer or A`otl'ier-means maybe providedforholding the stud against accidental displacement;

The receptacle member I3 consists1of=a-supy portingfra-ine 2-2v and aspring `-2 3f The supporting frame is preferably formedfwith' a circularpor tion--having-a flange 'around'th'e-edge thereofand a central 'aperture 35e-nd has vtwo-wings vor handles 24 at diametrically opposite sides thereof;` each-of the wings or handles havingparallel=side-wal1s. The spring 23V is formed `of suitable -springmaterial such as music wire, hard drawn-steel wire; ofthe like, and-has its two opposite en-ds anchored'ein the vwings or handles 24; the -en dsbeingfrictionf ally 'engaged 'by the `side walls thereof The spring then coils around in a pair of oppcsitely disposed semi-circular coils 25 which spiral upwardly in a direction away from the handle members in which the ends of the spring are anchored. Connecting the coils 25 is the cross-bar 26, which is normally elevated above the surface of the re- 3 ceptacle as shown and is adapted to interengage with the spira1 slots I5 of the stud.

Plate II is provided with an aperture 36 as shown, which is adapted to receive the shank I4 of the stud and the receptacle member is mounted above the opening so that it may rotate. Many suitable means may be used for this purpose. Thus in Figs. 1 to 4, I have shown a collar 27 which is formed integral with the receptacle, or which may be welded, brazed, soldered or otherwise attached thereto. In applying the receptacle to the plate, the collar is inserted through the aperture and is flared outwardly on the under surface as indicated at 28. This arrangement permits the receptacle to readily rotate with respect to the plate.

In using the fastening device, the stud is xedly attached to one part as shown, and the receptacle is rotatably attached to the other part. The part II is then superimposed on part I!! so that shank I4 of the stud extends through the aperture in part II. The length of the stud and the height of the spring in the receptable should be arranged so that when the fastener is in open position, the cross-bar 2B will rest in the spiral slots I in the manner shown in Fig. 4. Upon rotation of receptacle I3 in a clockwise direction for a quarter of a turn, the cross-bar 26 will be drawn downwardly in the spiral slots I 5 and will finally lock behind shoulders I6 in the retaining portions I1 of the slots. To open the fastening device, the receptacle I3 is rotated through a quarter turn in a `counter-clockwise direction.

In the modified arrangement shown in Fig. 5, the receptacle I3 is attached to plate I I by means of a grommet 29 which extends through the circular aperture in the receptacle and through the aperture in plate II and is flared outwardly at both ends thereby permitting rotation of the receptacle but preventing separation of the receptacle from the plate.

In the modified arrangement shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 8, I have shown a receptacle I3 which likewise has a central aperture and a circular disk or circular shaped portion. Instead of having wing or handle members on opposite sides thereof, however, I provide a handle member 3l which extends diametrically across the entire receptacle and projects upwardly in a semi-circular or bow shape above the receptacle. The handle portion 3| consists of a pair of parallel walls formed integral with the remainder of the supporting frame and bent upwardly from opposite sides into engagement with each other.

The spring member 23 has its opposite ends anchored in the opposite sides of handle Si and is frictionally engaged by the side walls thereof. The spring is similar in form to the spring in the rst embodiment of my invention and coils upwardly in oppositely disposed substantially circular loops 25', the two coils being connected by cross-bar 26 which is elevated above the base of the receptacle.

This form of my receptacle is attached to a plate or removable part II in the same manner as receptacle I3 so that it may be rotated with respect to the plate. In the present instance, I have shown a grommet 29 which extends through the aperture in the receptacle and the aperture in plate II and is ared outwardly at its two ends thereby permitting rotation of the receptacle but preventing its separation from the plate. The receptacle is used in connection with a stud similar to stud I2 which is xedly secured to another part.

From the foregoing description of the several embodiments of my invention, it will be appreciated that I have provided an improved fastening device which is relatively simple to manufacture, install and operate, but which is nevertheless of sturdy construction so that it will give satisfactory service for a long period of time with comparative freedom from Wear. It will also be appreciated that the spring or receptacle member is readily accessible so that it can be replaced or repaired if it is damaged. It will also be understood that the stud member does not require much space and that it can also be used as a structural member to reinforce and strengthen the part to which it is attached.

Modifications may be made in the illustrated and described embodiment of the invention without departing from the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

l. In a fastening device, a receptacle member of the type engageable with a stud member upon rotation with respect thereto and comprising a base plate having an aperture therein; handle means on said base plate for use in rotating the same; and a wire spring supported on said base plate and formed with a cross-bar portion extending across the aperture, loop portions connected to opposite ends of the cross-bar portion, and anchor portions connected to the outer ends of the loop portions and frictionally held and anchored in the handle means.

2. In a fastening device, a receptacle member of the type engageable with a stud member upon rotation with respect thereto and comprising a base plate having an aperture therein; handle means on said base plate for use in rotating the same and comprising two portions integral with the base formed at right angles thereto and disposed in close parallel relationship; and a wire spring supported on said base plate and formed with a cross-bar portion extending across the aperture a short distance above the base plate, a pair of semi-circular loop portions connected to opposite ends of the cross-bar portion and anchor portions extending outwardly from the ends of the loop portions and frictionally held and anchored between the two portions of the handle means.

3. In a fastening device, a receptacle member as set forth in claim 2, in which the handle means has portions on diametrically opposite sides of the base plate.

WILLIAM DZUS.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Dorgelys May 28, 1946 Number 

